Hatbox partition



July -1, 1941.

E. B. MORGAN VHATBOX PARTITION Fil ed June so, 1959 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1939 July 1; 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED q STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to luggage and is concerned more particularly with a novel means for partitioning a ladys hat box, so as to support or retain ahat in position against being crushed while allowing other articles of apparel to be packed and carried in said hat box.

It is well known that ladies hat boxes are a substantially-uniform size (usually about 17 x 17" x 8) and, due to their size, are employed frequently as overnight bags for the carrying of a hat-and other clothing such as a dress,night clothing, slippers, etc., so that only one piece of luggage is employed for a short visit, but in such combined use of the hat box, the hat often becomes mashed or crushed.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a novel partitioning means for ladies hat boxes, without requiring any change in or attachments to the conventional luggage construction, said partitioning means having legs to space the partition the required distance from one wall of the box, (preferably the bottom wall) when the legs are in proper position, so as to provide a compartment in'the hat box of suflicient depth to receive the hat and maintain it against crushing by other contents that may be placed within the hat box on the other side of the partition, the partition being held in place by-said other contents pressing thereagainst;

and, when in a reversed position will lie flat against the bottom of the box and the legs lying against the side walls, thus giving access to the entire interior area of the hat box without obstruction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a partition of the character and for the purpose above described, wherein there are collapsible legs and when collapsed, lie flat against the partition so that the latter may lie fiat against the bottom of the luggage, said legs being so mounted on the partition that when they are in supporting or spacing position they are maintained in such position against collapsing by the sides of the hat box itself.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a partition, of the character and for the purpose above described, wherein said legs may be adjustable to provide a hat compartment of increased or diminished depth as may be required or desirable--either for accommodating a ladys hat of deeper crown or where the other contents in the hat box is not suflicient to maintain the partition in place against unnecessary movement-the partition being further provided With means for maintaining a hat in stationary position with respect tothe partition.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the novel leg construction with means for adjusting the length of the legs of the partition.

With the above and other objects in view as will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention further resides in the sundry details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed outin the appended claims.

In the drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of the invention as at present devised,

Figure l is a cross section through a lady's hat box of I conventional size, equipped with the present invention, and showing the partition of the invention in place providing a hat compartment and a space for other wearing apparel;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the partition of the present invention with the supporting legs collapsed;

Figure 3 is a View of thereverse side of the partition of the present invention showing the hat retaining means;

Figure 4 is an end view of the partition of the present invention .in collapsed position which it will assume when being carried in collapsed position in the ladys hat box;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of one leg of the partition and is broken away to show its construction and the novel means of adjustment to give the legs increased or diminished length;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 6 -6 of Fig. 5; and

Figure 7 is a perspective of a modified construction.

Referring in detail to the drawings in Figs. 1 and 4, 10 represents an article of luggage known as a ladys hat box of conventional constructionand dimensions having a bottom a, hinged top 1), sides 0 and handle h, and H denotes the partition which is of dimensions corresponding to the inside dimensions and shape of thehat box, the partition being designed to extend from side wall to side wall of the box.

The partition may be made of fiber, l-ami nated board, sheet metal, or any other material which will provide the partition with sufficient stiffness to resist strains due to normal packing and which will prevent it from warping.

The invention in its broadest aspect comprises a partition Ha (Fig. 7) with right angularly viding the bag into two compartments, one for a hat or hats and the other for apparel of a different kind which may smash the hats. When positioned reversely, the partition will rest against the bottom a of the box with the legs 12 lying adjacent or contiguous to the side Walls .,c of the box, thus unobstructing the interior area of the box.

However, the legs I3 may be made collapsible I I and, in this event, they are hingedly connected to the edge portions of the partition I I by hinges I3 (Figs. 1 to 5 w-hich will the le s to be moved in substantially parallel position with respect to the partition to their collapsed position (Figs. 2and 4) and which will permit them to move from their collapsed position substantially 270 to a position substantially at right angles withrespect to the partition ll (Figs. ,1 and 5),v the legs being limited in their .latter movement and maintained in this right angle position by the edge of the partition itself and by the side walls cof the box -I0 when positioned in the-latter. Of course, the arrangement of and movement designed for the legs may be obtained alone by the character of hinge employed.

A preferred construction for the collapsible legs comprisestwo .strips or leaves lZb, one hinged to .one of two opposite edges of the partition, respectively. These leaves I217 may be of a length co-extensive with the edge of the partition to whichthey are connected and of a width to provide the minimum leg length and the hinge employed may be that of the so-called piano hinge type, as shown in Figs. 2 to :5, thereby giving strength and durability to the partition as well as to the legs. Each leg plate or leaf I2b may be made of a thin sheet of aluminum to give the required strength and lightness, in weight and to further reduce weight may have its distal edge cut away, as at I2a, between its marginal end portions, whereby the latter definitely define the corner legs-I2.

,On the side of the partition opposite to that which the legs oppose when in their collapsed position, are provided two'pairs .of spaced substantially parallel elastic straps I15, each pair being arranged at right-angles with respect to each other (Figs. .3 and 4). These straps are connected to the adjacent edge portions of the partitionyll *by suitable fasteners rI:6,'preferably of the clasp type, so as to enable the straps to betightened or loosened,if desired. The arrangement of these straps is such that, in the case o: f;brimmed.ha ts, the brim may ibe inserted under saidstraps with the crown centered between the straps. as shown in Fig. :1.

In order :to, enable the partition to be spaced from the bottom a of the hat box at di'fierent distances so as .toaccommodate hats of .;difi;.6 .ent sizeor to more conveniently idivide the space within thev hat box to accommodate difierent articles of apparelto be carried in the compartment so provided, the legs may {be increased or diminishedin their length to meet these requirements. "I30 this rend'eadh leg 32 isproviided with extensible leg section l2a. (Figs. 5 and 6) which comprises a strip of aluminum or other material, foldedupon itself, each folded portion lying fiat against the opposite side faces of the leg I2 and secured thereto by rivets or the like I! projecting through guide slots I8 extending longitudinally in the leg, whereby the extensible section is held in place upon the leg for longitudinal adjustment.

The folded edge of theextensible sections I2a is provided with a plurality of notches I9 spaced along its length (three being shown in the drawin s) and each leg being provided with a latch to engage said notches. This latch'comprises of a detent or dog 2 set into a recess 2I, in an adjacent edge of the leg I2 and having one end e rounded and fittedly set. into a complemental cireular opening or notch in the edge of said recess 2 I, there being a spring 22 disposed in said recess 2I between an edge thereof and the dog 20 for normally urging its detent end d outwardly through the notches l il. 'I'he dog 20 and spring 22' are held in position by the folded opposite sides of the leg extension I20 when placed about the leg I2, .as above deScribod and shown in the drawings, particularly Figs. Band 6. Thus, when it is desired to lengthen the legs, the extensible portion 12a moved outwardly or downwardly and the .detent engages in one of the notches I3 according to the length desired When it is desiredto shorten or retract the leg of the extension, the detent d of the dog 2!) is pressed inwardly against the tension-of the spring 22 so that the leg may be moved to the v.i esired position.

From the above it will ,be, clear that a very desirable and novel article of manufacture has been provided for use in connection with ladies hat boxes and serving -a most utilitarian practical function.

Itis known that partitions forluggage .of various -kinds havebeen Sug ested heretofore, but none of it serves the purpose of the present .invention and which, :Whenarranged in .collapsed position, may becarr-ied .in.-.the bottom of the lu age giving unobstructed access to the entire interior space thereof and, when set up for use, will allowa hat box to serve bothas ahat box and for carrying other ,articles of wearing apparel yvh il-e assuring proper protection and safeguard to the hat. Eurthermore, the present in- .vention allows a lady to carry sufficient clothes for appropriate changes .over night or fora few days in a hat box alone, while insuring perfect protection to the hat. The construction of the partition has been meticulously worked out so as .to require a minimum of manipulation, requiring ,no fasteners, attachments nor other changes, such ,as additions .to .the interior of the hat box construction 'for enabling its use, may be purchased "as .a separate article of manuiacture, ,and ,used in any conventional hat box.

Having thus described the invention .and the manner in which the ,same is to be constructed and performed, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and .described as it may be modified in various'ways, but is only to be limited by the scope of the appended claims;

"What I claim is: j

-1. A partitioning means for-use in combination with a-p'iece of luggage, such as ladies hat boxes, and insertable i-nto and removable therefrom, said partitioning means ecomprising -'a table-ilike partition hav-inga relative flat member insertable and removable from the interior of the hat box and having a perimetal contour conforming to the interior contour of the hat box, and leg members at edge portions of said member and extending at substantially right angles thereto for spacing said member from a wall of the hat box to divide the hat box into two compartments, the compartment under the table being definitely spaced by said legs to receive hats and maintain them against being crushed, the other compartment on the top side of the table receiving other articles, which when packed will maintain said partition in position in the hat box, said table when in reverse position will lie flat against a wall of the hat box, said legs being hingedly mounted for a movement of approximately 270 whereby the legs may be moved to lie parallel with the partitioning member on one side thereof and to a position at right angles to said member on the other side thereof, said legs being held against collapsing by the side walls of the hat box, when in their said right angle position and the partitioning means is inserted in said hat box.

2. A partition for ladies hat boxes as set forth in claim 1 wherein the legs are hingedly mounted for a movement of approximately 270 whereby the legs may be moved to lie parallel with the partitioning member on one side thereof and to a position at right angles to said member on the other side thereof, said legs being held against collapsing by the side walls of the hat box, when in their said right angle position and the partitioning means is inserted in said box, and an adjustable extension means on said legs whereby the length of said legs may be increased or diminished.

3. A partitioning means insertable into and removable from luggage such as ladies hat boxes and the like, comprising a flat partitioning member adapted to lie between two opposing walls of a piece of luggage and having a perimetal contour conforming to the interior contour of the luggage, means for spacing the luggage from one opposing wall thereof, said spacing means including leg members each member having extensible sections, said extensible sections each comprising a strip of sheet material folded upon itself with the folded portions lying on opposite sides of a leg member and the closed or folded end of said folded material lying contiguous to one edge of said leg member, a recess in said edge of the leg member, a spring pressed detent in said recess and retained therein by the folded sides of said extensible portions, the closed end of said extensible portion being provided with one or more notches along its length into which said detent may extend.

. EDWARD B. MORGAN. 

